Israel election: Palestinians fear whichever candidate wins, they lose ahead of next week's poll

[Jefferson23]

3/10/2015

You might have thought they would support Isaac Herzog, the man promising peace where Benjamin Netanyahu has brought only war. But there is little enthusiasm in Ramallah

Nasser Abdul Qader has little patience for questions about Israel’s elections next week. The 34-year-old’s spacious but chilly grocery store in the Palestinian Authority (PA) de facto capital of Ramallah is adorned with a picture of Palestinian founding father Yasser Arafat. “All are bad, there is no difference between them,” he says of candidates in Tuesday’s polls.

Israelis are asking themselves who to vote for in a contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Zionist Union challenger, Isaac Herzog. But Palestinians face a more daunting question: how to continue feeding their families and running their businesses in the face of Israeli economic sanctions.

Mr Abdul Qader said he did not care if peace negotiations resume, something the moderate Mr Herzog has said he would try to bring about. “These negotiations are all lies. The occupation will continue,” he said. In early January, in response to a Palestinian application to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr Netanyahu’s government began withholding the monthly tax revenues it collects and is meant to transfer to the PA, which are crucial to its ability to pay its more than 150,000 employees.

*Polls put Isaac Herzog neck and neck with Netanyahu Polls put Isaac Herzog neck and neck with Netanyahu (EPA)

They have been receiving partial salaries, and the cash shortage is tearing through the economy in Ramallah. Mr Qader says: “People are buying less. I give the customers credit, but the suppliers are telling me I must pay up. I’m borrowing money from my uncle so that I don’t close.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-election-palestinians-fear-whichever-candidate-wins-they-lose-ahead-of-next-weeks-poll-10099113.html

[Scootaloo]

1. Well, obviously. They're ruled by a state whose rulership they have no say in

I mean that's textbook "losing no matter what"

But hey, it's all good. 'Cause Zipper talked about having talks that will talk about talks needed to talk about having talks that might lead to talks that talk about having talks on the subject of talks pertaining to talking about talks to get gay marriage into talks!

[Jefferson23]

2. I have been reading some comments, the both sides don't want peace, neither is willing to

do what is necessary for peace bullshit. I suppose that will surface with more regularity if and when
Herzog and Livni succeed. I believe when any given poll has language indicating the terms of a viable two state solution
to include Israel ending up with none of the WB, a divided EJ, and a resolve to the refugee right of return,
the support plummets significantly.

Herzog and Livni are going to change this?


Professor Ilan Pappé: Israel Has Chosen to be a "Racist Apartheid State" with U.S. Support ( 2014 )

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/7/28/professor_ilan_pappe_israel_has_chosen

[Jefferson23]

3. Livni on the law:

NO. I was the Minister of Justice. I am a lawyer…But I am against law -- international law in particular. Law in general.
If we want to make the agreement smaller, can we just drop some of these issues? Like international law, this will make the agreements easier.

http://transparency.aljazeera.net/en/projects/thepalestinepapers/20121823740234656.html

[Jefferson23]

4. No matter who wins the election, the Palestinians lose

http://mondoweiss.net/2015/02/israeli-elections-palestinians

[azurnoir]

5. None of the candidates have really said anything new

it's all about talking the talks to avoid walking the walks

[Jefferson23]

6. True, I think it is unfortunate if any becomes misled about Herzog's intentions

for the Palestinians:

“The arrangement shall be designed with the support of moderate Arab states and the international community, and based on the following principles: demilitarization of the Palestinian state; keeping the West Bank settlement blocs under Israeli sovereignty; strengthening Jerusalem and its status as the eternal capital of Israel; and guaranteeing religious freedom and access to the holy places of all religions while maintaining Israeli sovereignty.”

It says the Palestinian refugee problem will be solved through the establishment of a Palestinian state, and not in Israel, and the rights of Jewish refugees from Arab countries must be addressed in any final-status agreement.

The party calls for ceasing settlement construction outside the settlement blocs, which it believes harms Israel’s international standing and is contributing to its international isolation.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Zionist-Union-platform-aims-to-set-Israels-final-borders-393308